Quoting spooln4fun:
Hey everyone. Looking for input and suggestions, have you had to deal with this and was it worth fixing in your opinion.
Matt
That looks like a parts car to me, holes in cosmetic panels like rockers is one thing. Rot that is extending up through the front firewall/door jam area to where it's affecting the door mounting is bad. I would have to really see it or better photos to judge, but Iv got pretty extensive experience with these cars stripped down naked.....when the rot starts to get visible around the body cladding....it's usually rotted pretty hardcore in the subframe mounts and in the structural boxes of the unibody, as well as in the wheel wells and trunk areas.
Is it worth buying to beat around in....and use until something major fails....SURE. Is it worth buying for parts: SURE. Is it worth buying thinking you can restore a rotted out unibody by cutting/welding...in general no, just find one with no rot/rust as they don't honestly sell for that much more.
The other thing to consider is the original add listed "brakes go to floor" indicating the rot is not just in the cosmetic areas.. not only does rot have a structural impact on these cars, it has a functional impact. Plan on every fuel line, brake line, parking brake cable disintegrating when you touch it when it gets to the point that corrosion has gotten to the brake lines under each body attachment point. Rot often gets the rear brake calipers, the front radiator support/brackets, and makes doing wear item maintenance on these cars into long term projects when bolts are snapping off everywhere.